[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 173 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 TRIBUTE TO MARGARET ST. CLAIR PLASTINO

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true 
inspiration from my home State of Idaho, Margaret St. Clair Plastino. 
Likely the oldest living registered nurse in Idaho, Margaret has truly 
used her 102 years on this earth to improve the health of those in her 
community. Because of this lifetime of service, she is being honored on 
Monday, November 4, 2019, by her fellow nurses at the Idaho Nurses 
Recognition Dinner cosponsored by the Idaho Center for Nursing, Nurse 
Leaders of Idaho, and the American Nurses Association of Idaho. This is 
a well-deserved honor, as Margaret spent the majority of her life 
improving healthcare in Idaho.
  Margaret was born in Utah in 1917 to Edwin St. Clair and Evelyn 
Borrow before she and her family moved to Shelley, ID. She has remained 
in eastern Idaho ever since, helping her community and serving as a 
positive influence in the lives of those she encounters. Margaret 
graduated from the Idaho Falls LDS Hospital School of Nursing in 1939 
and was hired by Bonneville County as county nurse in 1942. Beginning 
her career during the Great Depression, Margaret not only provided much 
needed medical care, she also provided emotional support and comfort to 
patients. She treated each patient with the devotion and care that were 
central to her character.
  Margaret married her husband, Ben Plastino, in 1948, and they were 
blessed with three daughters. She began a new full-time role raising 
their family in 1952. Although she was no longer spending her days 
caring for patients as a full-time nurse, Margaret continued to help 
provide healthcare to the community where she could, including 
administering important vaccines. She eventually returned to the 
nursing profession, becoming the first home health nurse in 
southeastern Idaho. After she retired, she maintained active in the 
field and volunteered in various roles for the next 25 years.
  There are countless stories that illustrate Margaret's devotion as a 
nurse. Many of these have been shared in local and State newspapers 
recently and there are certainly more to be shared amongst her friends, 
family, and community. Such instances include Margaret's decision to 
administer tetanus shots to those affected by the Teton Dam collapse in 
1976. She also cared for children of a struggling family when she found 
out they did not have sufficient food in their household. It is 
heartening to hear stories such as these and I hope they will continue 
to spread and inspire more individuals to do as Margaret has.
  Margaret went the extra mile in all that she did to ensure the best 
care was administered to her community. She did not do this for 
accolades or attention. She recognized that she could be of service to 
her community and wanted to use her skill sets to help. She has 
demonstrated the love she has for her community and demonstrated how to 
treat each patient in a manner that reflects their dignity as a person. 
Margaret is selfless and the type of individual who makes her community 
and Idaho such a special place. There is no one more deserving to be 
honored.
  Today, I express appreciation on behalf of countless individuals from 
the great State of Idaho, impacted by Margaret's selfless service. 
She's truly an extraordinary citizen who didn't just see providing 
healthcare as a profession but as a calling. I join her colleagues in 
honoring her lifetime of service.

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